The worst tyrants are those which establish themselves in our own breasts.

William Ellery Channing

The Empire Strikes Back, Again

. . . . O'er the ramperts we watch, were so gallantly streaming? And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air, .
. . . From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the gave . . . . Then conquer we must, for our cause it is just . . . .

You heard these words before! Now that the campaign has started, we are suppose to quell the debate and support the troops.
That is what we are told and how most would judge. No one is really serious that the 'coalition' is the Empire with Darth
Vader leading the storm troops into action. No one but bin Laden! Certainly none of us could agree with his conclusions. Just
look at the polls, the jury didn't have to spend any time on deliberating this verdict.

But what did the most famous criminal since Jack the Ripper, say during that rehearsed PR image building chat? It can
be summed up with:

"neither the United States nor he who lives in the United States will enjoy security before we can see it as a reality
in Palestine and before all the infidel armies leave the land of Mohammed".

Wow, what a flash! I thought that we were all told that this was a fight between the West and Islam. A fight to the death.
Not those who live among us, you know; just those guys that are sunning themselves in all that sand, over there . . .

Could there really be a connection with that little skirmish between those Arabs and those folks in Israel? Surprise, surprise
all those talking heads are misleading us again. Now that the air wing is in the skies, we have entered into a much different
stage of this conflict. Events will now take a life of their own, while the voices of reason will be muted from the blow by
blow reporting. But will these hostilities be settled on a battle field, or will the final victor be the one who wins the
clash for the minds of men?

Whatever you think of bin Laden's speech, you should read it. Decide for yourselves if there is even an ounce of truth
in what he says. Don't be fooled that he was really talking to you, since your mind is firmly planted in the red, white and
blue camp. He was stating the case for the millions of potential future mad bombers that are just looking for a career change.
Their current benefits are not providing the life style that they wish to live.

Somehow it is so difficult to think that there could be people who really don't want to have a 401 K portfolio. Gee; with
the crash, maybe there is some wisdom in a very different diversified approach.

But why should we worry, all is under control. The deal between Bush and Putin gets right down to the core of the problem.
Deployment of those tactical nukes took only seventy minutes to agree upon. Sure wish we could have stuck more pacts like
this one during that 'cold war'. The difference must be having an MBA to top your deal making. Maybe that Harvard is not so
bad after all. A list of targets can be 'chosen' if those guys start using their suitcase bombs. We need to protect our new
friend Pakistan, if things get hairy. Never mind all those demonstrations, we have experience with backing those strong arm
generals. He'll keep them in tow and spread the wealth around.

Now we hear our Chinese 'strategic partners' are entering into the fray. Moving their own Muslim troops into that old
trade route path. They sure are good in business and have a knack in being in the right place at the correct time. I hear
they are going to visit those pristine views in the Hindu Kush range. Maybe if they have some spare time, they can climb that
K-2. Who would say to them, but that's in Pakistan? You can't enter!

Maybe we better work on that list, just in case. There are so few targets to hit, and with those smart bombs, we should be
done lickety-split. But what if they attack our Hollywood stars, and turn Beverly Hills into an illuminated 'death star'?
We are the Galactic defenders of our Emperor's wish. We will show them and make all their land just like Tatoonie. Tehran
for LA, not really sure a bad trade! Baghdad for Boston, might be a bit harder, to pay.

But why should we worry, all is at hand. The games are back and the Bills still hope, that they can. Nothing this guy
bin Laden can say, will make us change our mind. We know we are right and all will be well. We can sing those lyrics, Sunday
next; and give them both hell . . .

SARTRE - October 8, 2001

Our enemies come nearer the truth in the opinions they form of us than we do in our opinion of ourselves.